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INDIANAPOLIS — One week after T.Y. Hilton's return, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has a chance to get another one of his favorite targets back this week against the Oakland Raiders.

For the first time in five weeks, Jack Doyle was back on the practice field Wednesday.

Doyle, who suffered a hip injury in the first half of the Washington game in Week 2, was healthy enough to get out on the practice field and haul in passes from Luck and, like Hilton a week ago, there is cautious optimism from the Indianapolis staff about the tight end’s return.

Doyle suffered the injury right before halftime against the Redskins and, although he felt funny, he finished out the game. Doyle did not realize the injury could keep him out long-term until he met with team doctors the next day, and he’s been forced to sit out five consecutive games after missing just two in his first five seasons in the NFL.

According to Doyle, those same team doctors, along with Reich, will make the decision on a possible return.

“I’m just going to leave that up to them,” Doyle said. “We’ll see how it progresses through the week, but yeah, just excited to be out there today.”

Doyle’s return would make a tight ends position that has been a strength for the Colts even more formidable.

Paced by Eric Ebron’s team-leading 33 catches, 357 yards and six touchdowns, Indianapolis tight ends rank first in the NFL in touchdowns (nine) and second in the NFL in receptions (52). Doyle opened the season by making nine catches for 80 yards in the first two games, and his presence — like Hilton's a week ago — would be have a stabilizing effect for a passing offense that struggled with drops while both stars were out of action.

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Clark Wade, Clark.Wade@Indystar.com

“It’d be great, and I’ll say this, in his absence, the other guys have really stepped up and done a heck of a job,” Luck said. “Jack’s obviously a great leader in this locker room, an offensive captain. I love playing with him. … When you get guys like that back around, they seem to help us go up a level.”

For Doyle, the opportunity to get back on the field would be a chance to get back to normal.

Doyle is not accustomed to sitting out. Aside from a season-ending injury in his sophomore year at Western Kentucky, Doyle has been an iron man in his career, missing only a game here or there despite playing a position that as demanding physically as any in football.

“It’s hard to watch your teammates go out there,” Doyle said. “You want to try to be a part of it, you want to help, and that’s what I tried to do. I was in all the meetings to try to help out that way. It’s tough, but it’s part of the game.”

Making matters worse, Indianapolis suffered through a four-game losing streak immediately after Doyle suffered his injury against the Redskins.

Frustrating, to be sure.

But as frustrating as it has been — and this has felt like the longest Doyle has ever been forced to watch from the sidelines — he’s gotten a little perspective on the situation from his family life.

“I have a 2-year-old,” Doyle joked.

That particular frustration is going to take a little more than five or six weeks to sort itself out.